Audra McDonald Wins Record-Breaking Sixth Tony Award, for Lead Actress in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill"

Congratulations to Audra McDonald, winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her unforgettable performance as Billie Holiday in Lanie Robertson’s musical play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. This marks a historic sixth Tony Award win for McDonald, the most ever won by a performer. She gave a beautifully heartfelt acceptance speech at last night's ceremony, broadcast live on CBS from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, which you can watch below.

Audra McDonald's Tony Award win comes on the heels of her Drama Desk Award (her fifth and her first in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Play) and Outer Critics Circle Award win for her portrayal of the legendary jazz singer.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, which also earned the Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play for Steve Canyon Kennedy, marks Audra McDonald's eleventh turn in a Broadway production. Her record-breaking sixth Tony Award follows the 2012 Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical for The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess and earlier Featured roles in Carousel (1994), Master Class (1996), Ragtime (1998), and A Raisin in the Sun (2004).

Audra McDonald released her latest solo album on Nonesuch Records last year with Go Back Home, her first such album in seven years. "As usual," said the Los Angeles Times, "she stuns upon entrance, exit and everything else." New York raved: "It’s entirely possible that Audra McDonald is the greatest singer alive." The album is her fifth solo album for Nonesuch Records, following Way Back to Paradise (1998), How Glory Goes(2000), Happy Songs (2002), and Build a Bridge (2006).

Congratulations to Audra McDonald, winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her performance as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. This marks a historic sixth Tony Award win for McDonald, the most ever for a performer. Watch her acceptance speech here. She recently won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for her portrayal of the legendary jazz singer.

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Congratulations to Audra McDonald, winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her unforgettable performance as Billie Holiday in Lanie Robertson’s musical play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. This marks a historic sixth Tony Award win for McDonald, the most ever won by a performer. She gave a beautifully heartfelt acceptance speech at last night's ceremony, broadcast live on CBS from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, which you can watch below.

Audra McDonald's Tony Award win comes on the heels of her Drama Desk Award (her fifth and her first in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Play) and Outer Critics Circle Award win for her portrayal of the legendary jazz singer.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, which also earned the Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play for Steve Canyon Kennedy, marks Audra McDonald's eleventh turn in a Broadway production. Her record-breaking sixth Tony Award follows the 2012 Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical for The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess and earlier Featured roles in Carousel (1994), Master Class (1996), Ragtime (1998), and A Raisin in the Sun (2004).

Audra McDonald released her latest solo album on Nonesuch Records last year with Go Back Home, her first such album in seven years. "As usual," said the Los Angeles Times, "she stuns upon entrance, exit and everything else." New York raved: "It’s entirely possible that Audra McDonald is the greatest singer alive." The album is her fifth solo album for Nonesuch Records, following Way Back to Paradise (1998), How Glory Goes(2000), Happy Songs (2002), and Build a Bridge (2006).

Audra McDonald is an amazing performer both live and on recordings. I hope Nonesuch will get her back in the studio for more solo recordings. Audra is in her vocal prime. This is the time to capture her talent for the ages. Singers like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald were recording two or more albums a year. Please don't wait another seven years to get her in the studio. I would love for Audra to tackle a songbook series like Ella Fitzgerald did. Just imagine how wonderful it would be to hear her record collections devoted to Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Sondheim, Arlen etc.